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The presidential presentation of a turkey has been a longtime annual Thanksgiving tradition that dates back to the Truman administration. Though the pardoning of turkeys is a more recent tradition and the pardoned turkeys aren't eaten, most of them do not survive past Thanksgiving. Judy Pedersen, public information officer for Frying Pan Park at the Fairfax County Park Authority, told CBSNews.com that the mature turkeys are not wild and are usually too fat and unhealthy to survive. In this photo, President Truman poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 16, 1949, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov

President Richard Nixon poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov

President John F. Kennedy poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 1963, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov/Courtesy John F. Kennedy Presidential Library

President Gerald R. Ford poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 1975, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov/Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library

President Gerald R. Ford poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 1975, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov/Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library

President Ronald Reagan poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 1983, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov/Courtesy Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

President Ronald Reagan poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 1983, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov/Courtesy Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

President Ronald Reagan poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 1988, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov/Courtesy Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

President George H.W. Bush poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 1989, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov/Courtesy George H.W. Bush Presidential Library

President George H.W. Bush poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 1991, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov/Courtesy George H.W. Bush Presidential Library

President George H.W. Bush poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 1991, at the White House.

Credit: WhiteHouse.gov/Courtesy George H.W. Bush Presidential Library

President Bill Clinton poses with a turkey at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 24, 1998, at the White House.

Credit: AP Photo, file

President George W. Bush (R), Jeff Radford (L) and Stuart Proctor, representing the turkey industry, pose with a turkey named "Liberty" at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation, Nov. 19, 2001, in the Rose Garden at the White House.

Credit: Mark Wilson

President George W. Bush (R) cautiously pets "Katie" next to turkey breeder, Ron Prestage's (C), and Scott Prestage (L) of the National Turkey Federation at the annual turkey pardoning in the Rose Garden of the White House, Nov. 26, 2002. Katie is the first female turkey to receive a pardon since the annual ceremony began.

Credit: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

President George W. Bush (R) pets a turkey named "Stars" at the annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Presentation in the Rose Garden of the White House, Nov. 24, 2003.

Credit: Mark Wilson

While National Turkey Federation President Alice Johnson (L) looks on, President George W. Bush pardons "Marshmallow," the national Thanksgiving turkey, during a ceremony in the Old Executive Office Building, Nov. 22, 2005.

Credit: Chip Somodevilla

President George W. Bush pets a turkey named "May" with school children during the annual pardoning of Thanksgiving turkey, Nov. 20, 2007, at the Rose Garden of the White House.

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President George W. Bush pets "May" the turkey during the pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkey, Nov. 20, 2007, in the Rose Garden of the White House.

Credit: MANDEL NGAN

President Barack Obama, alongside his daughter Malia Obama (R), and National Turkey Federation Chairman Walter Pelletier (2nd L), pet a turkey named Courage during the annual turkey pardoning ceremony for Thanksgiving on the North Portico of the White House, on Nov. 25, 2009. After the ceremony, the 20-week-old, 45-pound turkey from Princeton, North Carolina, along with a backup named Carolina should Courage get stage fright, will fly to Disneyland in southern California to take part in the theme park's annual Thanksgiving Day parade.

Credit: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

President Barack Obama is flanked by his daughters Sasha (L) and Malia (R) after pardoning 'Liberty', a 19-week old, 45-pound turkey at the North Portico of the White House, Nov. 23, 2011.

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President Barack Obama, with daughters Sasha, center, and Malia, right, carries on the Thanksgiving tradition of saving a turkey from the dinner table with a "presidential pardon," at the White House, Nov. 21, 2012. After the ceremony, "Cobbler" will head to George Washington's historic home in Virginia to be part of the "Christmas at Mount Vernon" exhibition. National Turkey Federation Chairman Steve Willardsen is seen on the left.